Shifting ‘stuckness’ in Parkinson’s disease: a music therapy case study

Abstract

Prior research has demonstrated the positive effect of music therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease, much of which is concerned with functional motor-related goals and their quantitative measurement. However, few studies qualitatively address details of the music therapy process itself. This interpretivist case study sought to understand the therapeutic potential of an eight-week integrated music therapy intervention involving a single client with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The music therapy intervention, focusing on motor and non-motor clinical goals, comprised clinical improvisation, structured musical exercises, music-centred movement, and receptive music therapy techniques. Data collected included audio-visual footage of the intervention and transcripts from semi-structured interviews conducted with the client and the music therapist at the conclusion of the intervention. The article illustrates the ways in which the integrated music therapy intervention addressed the client’s experience of ‘stuckness’ and other challenges associated with the lived experience of PD. Themes from the thematic analysis revealed that the client experienced increased motivation, self-confidence, improved motor and gait control, mood regulation, better focus, the opportunity for emotional expression, and support within the therapeutic relationship.